I loved what Bob Costas said after a particular hyperbolic Bolt-spout when Jamaica won the 4 x 100 relay. “It’s hard to have a higher opinion of Usain Bolt than he has of himself,” said Costas, “so we’ll let it stand as he said it”.

It’s like, ghastly, but you can’t look away. Still, it is hard not to love Bolt, with his bold speed, his lightning bolt signature pose, and his Jamaican “Yah Mahn” attitude.

Bolt interrupted an interview when the USA national anthem began for USA’s Sanya Richards-Ross, who won gold in the 400 m. He stopped the interview politely, faced the podium, and stood quietly with respect. When the anthem finished, he resumed the interview. Cool, I thought. And love those Jamaican flag colors, yellow, green and black.

The Olympics are over, sadly, I must say again, but never fear, high school sports are afoot! Two teams defend state championships from last year.

Coach Tony Esplin of Monticello High begins defense of Monticello’s state volleyball championship after the loss of MVP and four year starter, Swayzi Slade and five other seniors.

However, Esplin is confident that the 2012 edition will do just fine. Returning starting setter Devin Dalton and fellow seniors Shaylyn Black and Jessica Ewart all saw significant action last year.

Coach Jeff Hunt and the MHS boys begin defense of their state cross country championship fully reloaded after losing only two seniors. Collin Hatch, ninth place from a year ago, leads a strong contingent including Tanner Eardley, Jens Brewer, Sheldon Black, and Easton Nielson, who all who placed in the top 30 last year, plus newcomer Justin Wright, who hopes to follow track success to the XC venues.

Monticello begins its 60th year of football with great expectations. Monticello sports a 322-236 alltime record in 60 years of football. The Bucks actually started football way back in 1934, playing for two seasons, before stopping and resuming in 1955. The Bucks own four state championships with a 4-4 record in state championship games.

This year, under third year coach Lee Chadwick, the Bucks look to improve on last year’s efforts, which saw the Bucks lose in the semifinals to Layton Christian while posting a much-improved 9-3 record after a 4-7 record the year before, a five-win turnaround. With many players starting their third year in the Chadwick system, look for the Bucks to run like clockwork but with some new faces in new places.

The Bucks take to the field Friday against Whitehorse with the first of five home games this season.

The San Juan Broncos, whose season- and state-leading 30-game winning streak was ended by Millard in the 2A semifinals, begin their 57th season with the tenth best winning percentage in Utah high school football.

Amazingly, that 64 percent winning percentage climbs to 94 percent the last three years, where the Broncos have posted a 43-3 record in that span.

Did you know, though, that San Juan also holds the record for the most losses in one season? Yep, it’s 11 and happened in 1976. That team, consisting of mostly sophomores, scored 14 or fewer points in 10 of the 11 games, and went 1-9 the year before when many played as freshmen.

In 1977, the team went 6-4 and made it to the state playoffs, beginning a streak that continues to this day, By their senior season, though, they posted a 10-2 record before losing out in the semifinals to Granstville.

San Juan has won six state football championships in 12 tries. Coach Monty Lee has built a winning tradition at San Juan, including three of those state championships and look for this year to be more of the same with leading 2A quarterback, Barkley Christensen, and leading rusher and tackler, Logan Meyer, back for their senior seasons.

Cassy Moon’s San Juan volleyballers hope to finish one spot higher than last year after placing second to Richfield. More on the Lady Broncos next week, maybe.

MHS girls, led by Bailey Goodwine and her tenth place finish at state, hope to improve on their fifth place team finish.

San Juan returns some strong runners and in the boys team and rebuild with a young bunch of runners in the girls. Look for the Broncos to do well in 2A though both teams graduated a bunch of seniors. The girls have been second in 2A for two years and the boys have been second and third the last two years.

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